Latest News
ATO warning regarding private use of work vehicles and FBT
Employers that supply work vehicles to their employees need to check how the work vehicles are used and whether any exemptions apply to determine if they attract fringe benefits tax (‘FBT’). FBT generally applies when a work vehicle is made available for private use, even if it is not actually used. Private use includes any […]
Tips to help sole trader clients
The ATO is seeing sole traders make mistakes in the following areas: not reporting all income — this includes income earned outside their business (like a ‘side hustle’), cash jobs, or payments in-kind/barter deals; overclaiming expenses — this includes claiming the portion of an expense related to personal use, or overstating the cost of goods […]
Correctly dealing with rental property repairs
Taxpayers who have had work done on their rental property should ensure the expense is categorised correctly to avoid errors when completing their tax return. A deduction for ‘repairs and maintenance’ expenses can be claimed for work done to remedy, or prevent defects, damage or deterioration from using the property to earn income. These expenses […]
Reminder of September Quarter Superannuation Guarantee (‘SG’)
Employers are reminded that employee super contributions for the quarter ending 30 September 2025 must be received by the relevant super funds by Tuesday, 28 October 2025. If the correct amount of SG is not paid by an employer on time, they will be liable to pay the SG charge, which (as noted above) includes […]
Employees incorrectly treated as independent contractors
The ATO is warning businesses that if they incorrectly treat an employee as an independent contractor, then they risk receiving penalties and charges, including: PAYG withholding penalty for failing to deduct tax from worker payments and send it to the ATO; Super guarantee charge (‘SGC’), which is more than the super that would have been […]
PAYGW reminders for activity statement lodgments
The ATO will be sending certain employers a reminder to lodge their activity statements. The reminder will include the amounts the ATO has on record for them, such as: PAYG withheld amounts reported through Single Touch Payroll; and any other pre-filled amounts, including GST instalments and PAYG instalments (instalment amount option). The ATO’s reminders are […]
Using The Equity In Your Home To Purchase An Investment Property
If you are already repaying your own home or another investment property, you may be able to use the equity you have built up to purchase an additional property. Let’s use an example to explain this process. Your lender is going to require that the loan amount is less than 80% of the value of […]
5 smart things to do with your tax refund.
For many people, their tax refund is treated like a mini lottery win. This tax time, consider putting your “gift” from the ATO to good use and silencing the part of you that wants to fritter it away on things that expire. 1 – Put it into your super Remember the 70-year-old you gets better […]
What is your “total superannuation balance” and why does it matter?
Recent superannuation reforms introduced a concept of “total superannuation balance”, which on the surface may give the simple impression that it is the sum of the balances of a person’s superannuation interests. However, this is not the case. What is the total balance relevant for? The total superannuation balance is relevant in determining a super […]
What the Proposed Housing-Based Super Contribution Initiatives Offer
After waiting for what seems like an eternity, the government has finally put to Parliament its draft legislation around two of its schemes. The proposed schemes, the First Home Super Saver and Contributing the proceeds of downsizing to superannuation, are both pieces of legislation that are an attempt to bring into action proposals from the […]
Life Policy Bonuses and Tax
When a life insurance policy has been held by a taxpayer for 10 years or longer, reversionary bonuses received on that policy are generally tax-free. For policies held for less than 10 years, stipulated amounts are included in the taxpayer’s assessable income, and a tax offset is available. A bonus is not assessable income if […]
Child Death Benefit Recipients and the Transfer Balance Cap
The death of a parent is hard on all those involved, however once the grieving has eased, a time comes to address financial matters. One of these issues can be what happens to any superannuation they have left. Making things harder is the fact that the new transfer balance cap (TBC) brought in as of […]